Single Mom's Passport Win: No Father's Consent Needed!

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has delivered a significant ruling, stating that single mothers are entitled to apply for and obtain passports for their minor children without requiring the father's consent or signature. This decision, made by Justice Battu Devanand, clarifies that the Passport Act and Rules accommodate situations where parental consent is unavailable due to separation.

The court emphasized that passport authorities cannot legally insist on the production of divorce decrees, judicial separation orders, or specific court permissions. The petitioner, a single mother, had approached the court after her application for her daughter's passport was stalled by authorities demanding such documents. She had been living separately from her husband since 2022 due to matrimonial disputes.

This ruling aligns with a consistent judicial view across various High Courts, recognizing a single parent's right to facilitate a child's passport. The court highlighted that denying a passport solely due to one parent's refusal infringes upon the fundamental right to travel abroad, considered a facet of personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution.